Step 02 | Phase 1 (1955–1962)
We move into the physical realization of the dream. Step 02 documents the birth of the prototype. The Prototype of the Garden City: Defining the Mediterranean Utopia
Pillar I: The Horizontal Master Plan
Phase 1 (1. Kısım) served as the "proof of concept" for the entire Ataköy experiment. Architects Ertuğrul Menteşe and Kemali Söylemezoğlu prioritized horizontal sprawl over vertical density, creating a landscape where the buildings feel "tucked" into the greenery rather than dominating it. This phase is characterized by its exceptionally low floor-area ratio, a luxury that would become impossible in later years. The site plan followed a "human-scale" logic, where the distance between blocks was calculated to ensure that no resident’s view was obstructed by their neighbor. By placing the residential units along a series of winding, internal paths, the architects successfully isolated the living quarters from the noise of the E-5 highway and the burgeoning city, creating a silent, park-like atmosphere that felt more like a coastal resort than an urban housing estate.
Pillar II: The Porous Ground and the Floating Volume
The architectural signature of Phase 1 is its commitment to the "Porous Ground." Utilizing reinforced concrete frames, the architects lifted the residential volumes on slender pilotis, allowing the natural landscape to flow uninterrupted beneath the homes. This was a radical departure from traditional Turkish urbanism, which usually relied on walled gardens and closed street fronts. In Phase 1, the public space is total and continuous; there are no gates, only trees and walkways. This design allowed the sea breeze to circulate freely at the ground level, cooling the entire neighbourhood naturally. The blocks themselves, with their deep-recessed balconies and textured pebble-dash finishes, were designed to capture the shifting shadows of the plane trees, creating a visual dialogue between the rigid geometry of modernism and the organic growth of the garden.